Life presents us with many conflicts and worries, especially in an era where we are forced to compete amidst rapid, high-speed changes. Schools are deeply affected by this intense environment; students are conflicted over exams and peer relationships, while teachers continually agonize over the stress of teaching.
However, amidst these challenges, a group of dedicated educators is proving that a joyful school environment is possible. The allied club ‘Mind Healing Coexist’ is a group of teachers united by the desire to live joyfully with others, and they are achieving this through the practice of ‘Ma-eum Su-ryun’ (mind meditation).
🪞 Discovering the True Self Through Subtraction
How exactly does this meditation transform a stressful environment? According to Teacher Jeong Yeon-hee, the practice is fundamentally about discovering the true self by emptying the psychological pain, conflict, and stress we carry.
She explains that a person’s mind only sees the world through the “pictures” they have taken and stored, leading them to believe that this illusion is the absolute truth. Through the process of mind subtraction, individuals eliminate these illusions, allowing them to see the real world and live a freer, happier life.
This internal shift profoundly changes how teachers interact with their students. Teacher Kim Jeong-ok shared that she used to be a perfectionist who imposed her own strict standards on those around her. After starting the practice and freeing herself from what was trapping her, she noted a remarkable change: the children were exactly the same, but she began to see a different, more beautiful side of them.
🌬️ “A Cool Breeze is Blowing in My Mind”
The member teachers of the club are actively practicing mind subtraction with their students during class time, after-school hours, and club activities.
The results have been deeply moving. For instance, Jeodong Middle School operates a mind subtraction alternative classroom tailored for emotionally unstable children. Through this practice, these students break free from the negative and violent minds they had built up, becoming much more stable and comfortable.
As students discard their internal conflicts with friends and parents one by one, their relationships naturally become happy. The physical and emotional relief is so evident that one student beautifully described the experience by saying, “Teacher, there’s a cool AC breeze blowing in my mind”.
🎒 True Character Education for the Modern Era
Recognizing these outstanding results, ‘Mind Healing Coexist’ was selected as an Outstanding Character Education Practice Club.
Modern education often forces the constant “addition” of knowledge, but these teachers argue that true character education is achieved through the exact opposite: subtraction. Expanding the vessel of the mind to live harmoniously with others is the ultimate goal. When teachers find true happiness and students learn to clear their heavy minds, the classroom naturally becomes a place of joy.
🌿 Join our mindful community.
If you are a parent worried about your child’s stress, or an educator seeking relief from burnout, true character education and peace start from within.
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(References) 📰 About the Original Article
- **** Publication: Naeil Shinmun / Article Title: Ma-eum Su-ryun Teachers’ Club ‘Mind Healing Coexist’ / Published: May 16, 2014
